Dear supporters,
I already had to tell you the terrible news that the wrestling champion Navid Afkari was executed by the Islamic regime on 12.09.2020. Shortly before his execution Navid sent a very emotional message to you and all his supporters and expressed his gratitude:
"I am happy today, because I’ve now learned the true aspirations of humanity from you, extraordinary people! Aspirations that are much greater and more valuable than international wrestling championships...." (read full message at the end)
Strangely, Navid was able to call a family member one day before his execution and was optimistic that things would turn out well for him and his brothers. Doctors had obviously examined and documented his wounds. (see phone call at the end)
After his execution, Navid was quickly buried under strict security measures in a village in the southern Iranian province of Fars on Sunday night. The regime was afraid of emerging uprisings. His family was not even allowed to attend the funeral! The police presence on location was increased. According to reports, his mother had previously checked desperately every morning on Iran's official judicial website to see if her son was still alive. How difficult it is for her and the whole family cannot even be imagined. His brothers Habib and Vaid have not been allowed to talk to their family since Navid's execution. They were taken to Adelabad prison, which is known for its horrible conditions and lack of minimum facilities.
In the social networks thousands condemned the execution. Many users are calling for Europe's foreign ministers to follow up their actions.
The German Foreign Ministry has published the following short statement.
Also the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Wrestling Federation are put under pressure. "Global Athlete", the international athletes' association has now demanded sanctions of the world sport for Iran. In a statement it was said that the International Olympic Committee and the World Wrestling Federation must ban Iran from the international sports arena for this "heinous execution". The IOC has so far been shocked by the execution, but wants to respect the sovereignty of the Iranian state. This must change.
Experts agree that with the execution of this obviously innocent sportsman - despite massive worldwide protests - the regime wants to demonstrate its "power", spread fear and, above all, warn young people against further uprisings. As long as this regime exists, there will be more executions, because it is the only means they have to stay in power. The lawyer of Navid has announced that another 30 people have received death sentences.
In response to the shameful and horrific execution of Navid, I propose to demand clear consequences and therefore to write to
1. the Federal Government of Germany (or the government of your country)
2. the Olympic Committee and the World Wrestling Federation,
3. representatives in Iran and the Iranian embassy
(all text suggestions can be found below).
We must never forget Navid's courageous words : "Silence is equal with supporting oppression...for the execution of an innocent person! If I am ever executed, I will not be the first innocent victim of this system of injustice!"
**Please also note the petition: Change.org/haft-tappeh in support of the Iranian workers and their protests against the Islamic regime. This protest action can become very dangerous for the Islamic regime. In the petition you will find a donation account to help the striking and imprisoned workers.**
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Text suggestions and emails:
1- Emails to the Federal Government of Germany
(or your government -therefore pls check for your governments email)
Subject: Boycott Iran
Dear Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel
Dear Mr. Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
I am a supporter of the petition change.org/novemberprotests with more than 104.000 supporters, which has also fought against the execution of the wrestling champion Navid Afkari! This planned murder of this young man was committed by the Islamic regime on 12.09.2020. Navid Afkari was forced under years of torture to confess a murder that he did not commit and for which there was and still is no evidence. By his execution an example was meant to be set! It was supposed to illustrate that human rights under the Iranian mullah regime neither exist nor can be demanded!
I therefore urge you to take decisive action against the Islamic government in Iran now in the sense of clear consequences due to this inhuman execution of Navid Afkari: End immediately the state and economic relations with Iran, withdraw the ambassador with immediate effect and expel the Iranian ambassador immediately. Do not allow yourself to continue to become an accomplice!
In its latest report, Amnesty International lists serious human rights violations in Iran's prisons following the protests in November 2019. These include waterboarding, electric shocks and mock executions. Surely everyone's heart should be tied up on this. Why is it accepted?
Navid Afkari's words were that any silence " ...means supporting the oppression..." and thus supporting those responsible in Iran"!
Please take a look and initiate appropriate measures! Please do not give our country a certificate of poverty. Please do not abandon the Iranian people and also not the people in our country, who have to watch all the suffering of an inactive government.
Take decisive and adequate action now to finally put an end to the over 40-year martyrdom of the Iranian people there. It would be so humane! And so incredibly good after all the silent acceptance!
Please do the right thing now in the sense of universal human rights and with awareness of the endless suffering of the Iranian people!
Otherwise more innocent people will die.
Sincerely
[Name]
Emails : [KB-012@bk.bund.de, heiko.maas@bundestag.de, baerbel.kofler@bundestag.de, omid.nouripour@bundestag.de, bijan.djir-sarai@bundestag.de, menschenrechtsausschuss@bundestag.de]
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2 - Emails to Olympic Committee and World Wrestling Federation (cc Globathlete)
Subject: Exclude Iran from world sports
Dear Sirs,
I am a supporter of the petition change.org/novemberprotests, which also campaigned against the execution of wrestling champion Navid Afkari, who was executed by the Islamic regime on 12.09. I join the demands of the international sports association "Global Athlete" and urgently demand sanctions of the world sports for Iran!
I call on the solidarity of the athletes and demand that the International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling immediately introduce sanctions that exclude Iran from world sports because of this heinous execution! The actions of the Iranian government are a clear violation of human rights; such acts must not go unpunished. For the execution of an athlete, this government no longer deserves the privilege of competing in international sport.
If you do not sanction and expel Iran, you are literally backing this murderous regime.
Please act now!
Sincerely
[name]
Emails [enquiries.contact@olympic.org, studies.centre@olympic.org, athleteshub@olympic.org, office@dosb.de, info@unitedworldwrestling.org,hello@globalathlete.org]
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3) Emails to the representatives in Iran and embassy
+ attach a picture of a lighted candle (if you want)
Subject: In memory of Navid Afkari. He will live for us forever!
We light a candle in memory of Navid Afkari. He will live for us forever! Navid Afkari means courage for humanity. Even if you have executed this wrestling champion and incredibly brave person. We will never forget him and his words will be remembered. We will NEVER remain silent and always appeal for the protection of human rights in Iran in the name of humanity and in the name of Navid Afkari. Free all political prisoners!
Emails [info@leader.ir, contact@leader.ir, media@rouhani.ir, info@dadiran.ir, iranunorg@mfa.gov.ir, info@iranbotschaft.de]
**please note Emails to Iran may return (filter), you need to try, change subject to sth neutral (like own name) and/or send without picture.
and/or
Twitter + candle picture ( @kamenei_ir @JZarif)
We light a candle in memory of #NavidAfkari!Even if you have executed this wrestling champion & incredibly brave person. We will NEVER remain silent & always appeal for protection of #HumanRights in Iran in the name of humanity &in the name of #NavidAfkari ! @kamenei_ir @JZarif
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Navid's last thankful message to you:
(original with sound recording and video)
“I was nearing 25 years of age when I was forced to put aside my wrestling to help my family with their livelihood conditions. I learned while growing up in my family to put my mother’s honor and respect before all my dreams and personal ambitions. We were always taught to make sacrifices for our loved ones.
I went to work and after around 6 to 7 months of labor work, I was arrested in September 2018 and now I’m on death row. I want the whole world to know that since I was a child, I dreamt of making my mother happy by getting international wrestling championships. But the cycle of life, forced me put wrestling aside and brought tears to my mother’s eyes.
That same cycle of life has turned again, and I’ve now learned the true aspirations of humanity from you, extraordinary people. Aspirations that are much greater and more valuable than international wrestling championships.
During the years that I wrestled, I never faced a cowardly opponent who played dirty. Because wrestling is an inherently honorable sport. But it’s been two years that my family and I have faced off against injustice which is the most cowardly and dishonorable opponent in human history. And undoubtedly, without your support and aid, we will all lose.”
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Transcript of Navid's last phone call:
(one day before his execution, original sound recording)
Family member: Hello
Navid: Hi How are you?
Family member: Are you hurt?
Navid: Where are you?
Family member: Are you hurt?
Navid: They said they’ll take all 3 of us to Tehran tomorrow morning. Have they called from home?
Family member: They’ve called home. Are you in Ebrat Section?
Navid: No, we’re underground
Family member: Underground. Did the forensics only examine you? Are Vahid and Habib hurt?
Navid: They examined all three of us.
Family member: They said on the news that you were only examined.
Navid: No, they came from the forensics along with Mr. Mousavi, the Chief Justice (of Fars Province) and a few doctors. They examined all three of us.
They took pictures and wrote down all the areas with injuries.
Family member: But they said on the news that you weren’t injured.
Navid: What I’m telling you is the truth.
Family member: That’s right. Okay.
Navid: About 10-15 areas (on our bodies) were injured and they wrote it all down.
Family member: Okay.
Navid: Now they said they’re going to transfer us to Tehran we don’t know where. That’s what they told us.
Family member: Do you know the names of the people who beat you?
Navid: Yeah we know the names.
Family member: Can you tell me their names?
Navid: Khadem al-Hosseini, the head of the prison guard.
Family member: Him, personally? Who else?
Navid: A few soldiers whose names I don’t know. I have to see them to recognize them.
Family member: okay
Navid: I can’t talk for long on the phone.
Family member: You can count on everyone.
Navid: Of course. I know it.
Family member: Don’t doubt that everyone has your back.
Navid: I don’t doubt it. Well, are you going to Shiraz (SW Iran).
Family member: I’m going to Shiraz as well. I’m following things up. I’ll be in Tehran and Shiraz.
Navid: Okay.
Family member: Don’t worry about anything.
Navid: We’re not worried at all. Well, is there anything else?
Family member: Tell me anything else you want me to know.
Navid: God willing everything will turn out okay.
Family member: Yeah everything will be okay.
Navid: We’ll see what happens tomorrow and where they take us and how things turn out.
Family member: Everything will be okay.
Navid: Don’t worry at all about my spirit (emotional state).
Family member: I’m not worried about that. About any of you three.
Navid: Okay. I feel at ease now. Anything else?
Family member: (I love you.)
Navid: (I love you) bye.
Family member: (Love you) bye.
Thank you!
I will keep you posted!
Regards
Saideh Azadi